The bottom line is clear: Our vital interests in Afghanistan are limited and military victory is not the key to achieving them. On the contrary, waging a lengthy counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan may well do more to aid Taliban recruiting than to dismantle the group, help spread conflict further into Pakistan, unify radical groups that might otherwise be quarreling amongst themselves, threaten the long-term health of the U.S. economy, and prevent the U.S. government from turning its full attention to other pressing problems. -- Afghanistan Study Group

Sunday, August 22, 2010

An Iraqi soldier stands guard as an electrical worker snips illegally placed wires used to steal electricity from the national grid in Baghdad on June 27. Dozens of Iraqis violently protested in the southern city of Nasiriyah to demand better power supplies, wounding 16 people including 10 policemen, witnesses and officials said. (AFP/File/Ahmad al-Rubaye)

Police clash with demonstrators protesting the lack of electricity, 10 police and 6 civilians are injured. AFP reports: "Iraq's daily power generation averages 8,000 megawatts, while demand in the summer, when temperatures have hit 54 degrees Celsius (130 degrees Fahrenheit), is typically more than 14,000 megawatts, forcing the use of rationing. Only those with access to their own generators and fuel have been able to refrigerate foodstuffs or air-condition their homes around the clock, while others have been rendered helpless in the oppressive summer heat, triggering the protests."

A roadside bomb struck a vehicle in the western province of Faryab, killing a local commander and four others, the Afghan interior ministry said.

ISAF forces killed two insurgents in the southern province of Zabul on Saturday. The troops were in pursuit of a Taliban commander who led attacks on Afghan civilians and security forces, ISAF said.

I Helmand, insurgents killed two female civilians while attempting to target a patrol of Afghan and international troops.

In Kandahar province, three Taliban commanders where killed in a raid by Afghan and ISAF troops on a Taliban hideout in Arghandab district on Saturday night, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.

We watched the continuous news stories about the "last combat brigade in Iraq" leaving with mixed emotions. We all worked together with that unit, and took over their area of responsibility when they got ready to leave. We ensured the road they traveled on was free of IEDs and the enemy to make sure they made it out safe. I am glad for them and their families that they made it out of Iraq and are on the way home. . . . That being said, it is somewhat frustrating to see the coverage and the message being sent out. Is combat really over in Iraq? . . . [I]t is hard to explain this message to our soldiers still here in Iraq as they dodged the six mortar rounds which slammed into our base two days ago. Families back home watching the news coverage were e-mailing loved ones here asking if we were coming home since we've been in combat for over eight months now. Unfortunately, our homecoming will have to wait; there is still a mission here for us to do.

While our primary mission is to advise and assist the Iraqis, make no mistake about our capabilities. We are a heavily armed and equipped combat brigade with the training, equipment and soldiers to defend ourselves and take the fight to the enemy if ordered to do so. And there is a very active enemy out there who has no intention of slowing down his attacks. Don't let the news stories deceive you. There still will be a very active and lethal fight going on here in Iraq after Sept. 1.

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comments:

It's certainly true -- the India/Pakistan rivalry is a big complication in Afghanistan and also, BTW, a major danger for the world since both have nukes. Karzai is thought to be somewhat partial to India and a major reason why the Pakistani ISI covertly supports elements of the Taliban is to gain influence within Afghanistan as a counter to India.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is not in much of a position to try to broker reconciliation between India and Pakistan. The main irritant between the two countries is the Kashmir, and actually Pakistan has a decent case there. But the U.S. will never recognize it.

I knew they were enemies as there have been several wars and skirmishes over Kashmir throughout my life time. But I didn't know that India had been a backer of the Northern Alliance, which we allied with to overthrow the Taliban.

Shame the traditional media hasn't brought this to light. If they did maybe world pressure would help bring about some sort of security agreement keeping A'stan out of Paki/Indian affairs.